An estimated 30 million people in the United States alone have some form of diabetes. It's a disease that practically anyone can get. If you're one of the 30 million, you should know that there are many ways you can work to manage this disease. Use the tips provided here to assist you in disease management.
Feel free to ask your doctor any question about Diabetes you might have, from how it affects your bowel movements to if it can cause sexual dysfunction (yes, it can!) No question should be too embarrassing or uneducated for you to feel comfortable finding the answer to as your doctor is there to help!
If you are diabetic and sick with a stomach infection or diarrhea, call your doctor right away for advice on whether you should continue with your medications or not. For example, some diabetics have been advised to not be taking Metformin if they have any sort of gastrointestinal upset as it could cause more harm than good.
A great breakfast food for a Diabetic is grapefruit! It's been known to assist people with weight loss even when they do nothing else. Be careful that you aren't on any pills, like atorvastatin for cholesterol, that have adverse reactions when you ingest grapefruit. It can actually increase their potency and potentially lead to an overdose.
Sometimes a quick snack, like a chocolate bar from a snack machine, or other goodies around the house, may be hard to avoid, diabetic or not. You need to do everything that you can though to avoid this temptation, and instead eat some veggies, fruit, or any other complex carbohydrate.
To keep stress from elevating your blood sugar, try practicing meditation. Meditation is a quick and easy way to calm yourself down and keep your blood sugar levels stable. If you're feeling irritable or overwhelmed, excuse yourself, sit down, and take a few minutes to meditate. It'll make your diabetes much easier to manage.
To reduce the sugar in your diet, try using light or low-fat products when you cook. These products aren't just lower in fat- they also contain less sugar and sodium. This is a great way to continue to use things like peanut butter, sour cream, and cheese in your cooking.
To make sure your glucose and blood sugar levels stay stable, eat at the exact same times every day. When your body knows when to expect food, it will have an easier time processing it, and dramatic rises or drops will be less common. Try setting an alarm that beeps every time you need to eat.
If you have diabetes, it can be difficult to go out to eat. Research menus ahead of time so that you can plan your meal. If a menu is not available online, you can stop by the restaurant ahead of time and ask for a copy, or you can call and have it read to you by phone. Knowing what the restaurant serves will help you to become more prepared for how you can eat healthy at the restaurant.
It is very helpful to have at least one friend who also has diabetes. This is someone that you will lean on for support when you are just not feeling good, and someone that can depend on you when they need a friend. You will also be able to learn about what their doctor is doing that may be different from the treatment you are getting. Just remember not to change anything without consulting a medical professional first.
If you're a diabetic, it is important to keep your insulin in an insulated bag if you are going away for a while. Keeping your insulin in a bag that is insulated will maintain the proper cool temperature required for this medication.
Watch out for liquid sugars. It is just as important for diabetics to watch what they drink as it is to watch what they eat. High-fructose corn syrup found in soft drinks is especially harmful to diabetics, and while fruit juices can be healthy, they can also cause a dangerous spike in blood sugar and should be consumed in moderation. Water is the best choice when you are thirsty, followed by unsweetened beverages.
When it comes to diabetes you want to make sure that you also are living a healthy lifestyle in other ways. This is important because you need your body to be in the best shape possible. Make every attempt to end bad habits such as smoking because it isn't just about your blood sugar.
For effective diabetes control through diet, regulate the amount of food you eat. Avoiding overeating keeps your blood sugar from skyrocketing and causing problems, because the amount of food you eat affects how much sugar is in your blood. Don't eat too little, either, though, because that kind of imbalance can also cause illness.
To stay on top of your blood sugar levels, check for blood sugar drops after exercise. Exercising can affect your glucose levels even after it's over. That's because the glucose used during long exercise periods comes from your liver, and after you use it up, your body will later try to restore it. If you don't eat around the time your body tries to do this, the level of sugar in your blood will drop. It's a good idea to check your blood sugar every 45 minutes after exercising to make sure you can take action to correct any imbalances.
If you have diabetes, then you should consider trying the guar gum supplement. Research has shown that guar gum can help lower your post meal blood sugar if you take the supplement in between your meals. It could also help reduce your cholesterol because it is really high in fiber.
30 million is definitely a huge number for one country, but there is a bright side to such a large number. A number this large means that you're far from alone. The tips you've read here were compiled by people who know what it's like to have diabetes. You can take their advice and learn to thrive with this disease.